Culture of the Peach in the open Air. 65 



Having, I trust, clearly and satisfactorily pointed out the cause 

 of failure, as regards the absorption of impure and pernicious 

 fluids by the spongioles, the next point to be considered will be 

 the formation of borders upon a right principle, completely 

 obviating the possibility of such fatal consequences. 



When new gardens are forming in low and damp situations, 

 particularly with a retentive subsoil, I should always insist on 

 keeping the walls well out of the ground, by raising the foundation 

 to where the set-off takes place considerably above the surface 

 level ; by so doing there is secured to the border a much greater 

 inclination than is usual, or would be desirable -under more 

 favourable circumstances. The oblique tendency thus secured 

 will assist in carrying off the redundant precipitations, whether 

 natural or artificial, to the front of the border. It will be ab- 

 solutely indispensable, in such situations, to provide gutters along 

 the edges of the walks to receive this surface water, as well as 

 drains under for carrying off this and all other superabundant 

 moisture. A moderated supply of water, to produce and retain 

 in ihe soil in which the trees are planted a medium temperament, 

 should be a paramount object in the original formation of the 

 border, that a controlled supply of properly converted food may 

 be promoted and secured. It will be desirable to have borders 

 from 10 ft. to 18 ft, wide, and bearing some proportion to the 

 height of the wall ; and walls from 10 ft. to 14 ft. high will be 

 found in every respect suitable for the peach tree. The height 

 of the walls also should bear some proportion to the space 

 enclosed, as a small piece of ground surrounded with a high wall 

 will be just as objectionable as a- large area enclosed with a low 

 wall. The border should be excavated 2 ft. 6 in. or 3 ft. deep, 

 giving a similar inclination to the bottom, as has already been 

 described for the surface : this measurement should be taken 

 from where it is intended to finish with the proper soil, that is, 

 6 in. above the set-off. I should then recommend a good drain 

 to be formed in front of the border and parallel with the wall ; 

 the top of this drain should be level with the bottom surface 

 that it may receive all the surplus water, whether arisino- 

 naturally, or that which may percolate through the soil ; I would 

 then place 1 ft, of loose rough rubble over the entire bottom 

 of the border. The material used for this purpose should be 

 such as would secure the most perfect drainage ; over this 

 place a few inches of furze, ferns, or any description of light 

 brushwood, to prevent the soil mixing with the drainage. In 

 some situations much of this preparation will be unnecessary : 

 but it should be attended to under every modification of cir- 

 cumstances. The facts which I have detailed, founded as tliey 

 are upon a physiological investigation of the subject, clearly 

 elucidate the course to pursue, and how utterly fruitless it is to 

 1841. — II. 3d Ser. f 



